Parjatan Corporation proposes Tk19,000cr projects to revamp tourist spots

Highlights:

• Bangladesh proposes 60 tourism projects costing Tk19,090 crore
• Projects span major tourism regions across Bangladesh
• Plans include hotels, eco-facilities, cable cars and entertainment centres
• Tourism master plan identified 1,498 potential destinations nationwide
• Projects may receive government, PPP and private investment
• Chattogram-Cox's Bazar receives largest regional allocation of Tk5,980 crore

Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) has proposed 60 tourism development projects across the country at an estimated cost of Tk19,090 crore to build new facilities and upgrade infrastructure at potential destinations.

Infograph: TBS

The projects cover the Chattogram Hill Tracts, Cox's Bazar and Chattogram, Sylhet, coastal islands, Rajshahi and northern districts, the Khulna-Sundarbans region, and Dhaka and its surrounding areas.

The proposals include tourism complexes, hotels, eco-friendly facilities, entertainment centres, cable cars, handicraft and heritage tourism facilities, training centres and other visitor amenities.

A tourism master plan prepared by the Bangladesh Tourism Board identified 1,498 tourism spots nationwide to assess and develop the country's tourism potential systematically.

"Of these, 60 development projects, estimated to cost around Tk19,000 crore, have been prioritised and submitted to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism," BPC Chairman Md Shamimuzzaman said.

The ministry has since sent the proposal to the Planning Ministry for approval, he said.

Shamimuzzaman said the projects would help build infrastructure needed to make Bangladesh's tourism sector more competitive and increase its contribution to the economy.

BPC General Manager (Planning) Md Ziaul Haque Howlader said the projects would not necessarily be financed entirely by the government.

"Some of the projects are planned for government financing, while others will be implemented through public-private partnerships or private investment," he told TBS.

Foreign investors could also be involved in larger projects, while financing arrangements would be determined individually at a later stage, he said.

The proposed investment comes as the government is separately pursuing a PPP-based model for BPC's existing tourism facilities to attract private capital and modernise state-owned properties.

BPC currently operates 53 establishments, including hotels, motels, restaurants, bars, picnic spots and tourist information centres. Officials say most have generated weak financial returns over the years, making major upgrades difficult through government financing alone.

The first major project under the PPP initiative is the proposed redevelopment of Hotel Shaibal in Cox's Bazar into an international-standard integrated tourism complex on nearly 132 acres of government land.

The largest regional allocation is proposed for Chattogram and Cox's Bazar, where nine projects would cost around Tk5,980 crore.

The plans include tourism facilities in the coral island area of Cox's Bazar, Patenga, Cumilla and Sabrang, along with diversified attractions, night-time entertainment and other activities aimed at encouraging longer stays and higher visitor spending.

In the Chattogram Hill Tracts, projects are planned for Kaptai, Bandarban and Rangamati to expand facilities and rehabilitate or redevelop existing attractions, including suspension bridges.

Around Tk3,540 crore has been proposed for tourism development in coastal and island areas, including Taltali in Barguna, Rangabali, Char Bijoy, Amtali, Kuakata, Hatiya, Nijhum Dwip and Manpura.

The projects would add accommodation and other visitor facilities to destinations with tourism potential but limited infrastructure.

BPC has proposed 12 projects in Sylhet at an estimated cost of Tk3,460 crore, including international-standard tourism facilities and tourism complexes.

The broader plan also covers destinations in the Mymensingh region, including Sherpur, Durgapur, Jamalpur and Nalitabari.

Four projects worth around Tk1,720 crore have been proposed for the Khulna-Sundarbans region to expand tourism facilities around the Sundarbans and develop higher-quality accommodation and other infrastructure.

The plans also include five-star hotels and training centres in Bagerhat and Khulna.

Seven projects worth around Tk1,510 crore have been proposed to develop existing and potential tourist destinations and supporting facilities in Rajshahi and the northern districts.

Around Tk2,900 crore has been proposed for tourism infrastructure in Dhaka and surrounding areas.

The plans include multipurpose tourism complexes, cable cars, handicraft centres and heritage-based tourism attractions. A cable car is also proposed at Hatirjheel.